Taiwan

The International Association of Bryologists (IAB) Conference 2025 was held in Taiwan from 13 to 17 October 2025, jointly organised by the IAB, the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute (TBRI), and the Bryological Society of Taiwan. Hosted at TBRI in Jiji Township, Nantou County, the meeting brought together 58 participants from 21 countries, with particularly strong representation from Asia.

Under the theme “Bryological Advances in Asia and Beyond,” the conference provided an opportunity for bryologists from around the world to meet, exchange ideas, and present recent ​advances across a broad range of research fields. The scientific programme included keynote lectures, oral presentations and poster sessions covering taxonomy and systematics, biodiversity and floristics, conservation, ecology, genetics, physiology, dispersal, ethnopharmacology, herbarium management, and other aspects of bryophyte research.

The keynote lectures reflected the diversity of contemporary bryological research. First, Sylvia Pressel presented recent work on land plant evolution and the evolution of bryophyte characters, then Christine Cargill discussed new phylogenetic approaches to understanding the large and complex liverwort genus Riccia.

Following the scientific sessions, participants could join field excursions to bryologically rich sites in Nantou County. Several options were offered, including a two-day excursion to the Sun-Link-Sea Forest Recreation Area. These field trips gave participants the opportunity to discover Taiwan’s bryophyte diversity in the field, supported by preliminary species inventories prepared by the local organisers, while also providing valuable opportunities for informal scientific exchange.

The conference was marked by the warm hospitality and excellent organisation of the Taiwanese hosts. It provided a valuable opportunity to renew international contacts, develop new collaborations and celebrate the vitality and diversity of bryological research.

A detailed report is available in issue 161 (December 2025) of The Bryological Times.